Without a doubt the best beach in New England and we've been to most of them - Crane's, Horseneck, Duxbury, Craigville, etc. Relatively warm water, complete facilities including showers, bathrooms, changing rooms, and food bar (although you won't find anything approximating healthy.) Bring your own chairs, umbrellas. Parking is $20 and the lot is big, but it does fill up. However, there are spillover lots available a short walk away. Newport with all its dining and nightlife is only 10 minutes away. It just doesn't get any better (actually, it does, but you can't fly to Miami every weekend. read more

This was our first foray into Rhode Island beaches and it was an excellent choice. Good sand, roomy beach area to spread out, and warm water for New England. We got to the beach around 9/915 on Friday July 5th, and parking nor traffic was an issue. We breezed right in and found a great spot near the main entrance area and the bathrooms. From there, we found ample room on the beach to set up shop for the day. The beach was beautiful. It was clean, the sand was nice, and it was a good atmosphere. Parking was not bad, $10, though I understand that on Saturday or Sunday it is $20. Our best advice is to come early. When we were leaving around 130/2, there was a traffic backup between 1-2 miles waiting to get into the parking lot. read more

A great place , the Sachuest area is better for looking and walking than swimming, although plently of folks swim. To me it has some of the most breathtaking views anywhere. Not exceptionaly large, there still is plently of room for a nice hike or a place to park for a bike ride and then ride over to ocean drive in Newport. Also good for kayaking although the water can get a bit frisky at times and might try to kill you. A neat little nature center is located by the parking lot that has clean bathrooms and little gift store selling t-shirts and trinkets. A friendly staff person will answer and questions about the wildlife or plants. The Sachuest area is a fantastic place to walk all year long and in a snowstorm or fog becomes ethereal. read more

We are a bit picky when it comes to beaches! (There I said it!) if I wanted a packed-mediocre beach I would go to Scarborough or Narragansett. I was very impressed with this beach! Even though it was packed I didn't feel clustered or hard to find my way back to my belongings. If you want to make it a long weekend there are plenty of Hampton Inns and Marriott's nearby. PROS: white soft sand Clean beach Super clean ocean water - I could see my feet. Showers to wash off Bathrooms Volleyball Court Frozen Lemonade stands Restaurants near the area Also, it was an exit away from Scenic Newport in case you want to check it out. (Beautiful!) Cons: $20 parking on the weekends (whoa Nelly!) *if you are coming from outside of Newport you have to pay a $4 toll IN and OUT of the city! So make sure to bring cash. read more

It's a beach so I'll keep this simple. Beautiful powdery sand? Check! Surprisingly warm water for New England? Check! Mix of friendly fellow beach goers? Check! Strange red seaweed in certain parts of the water? Check! The parking situation is reasonable considering the popularity of the beach and attendants work hard to keep order. During my last visit someone tried to cut me in line for parking and was promptly sent to the back by one of the officers. As the attendant walked back to their post they said "she was trying to cut the whole line!!!" One of my favorite beaches in Rhode Island and normally one of my first choices as well. read more

A personal thank you to the staff of Sachuset Beach for not charging us to park on the cloudiest, drizzliest, humidest, un-beach-weatheriest Labor Day on record. Paying even the weekday fee of $10 [let alone the $20 weekend fee] would have been an insult to common sense. There's few beaches this far north where you really don't have to wear water shoes to go in the ocean. The sand is soft, and not rocky at all. The waves aren't enormous, but pleasant enough to throw you about the surf. Actual surfers could be seen here, so if it's good enough for them... There's also a central facility with bathrooms, changing rooms, outdoor showers, and low mounted rinse-your-feet-off spout thingies. Very convenient to get the beach out of your hair and toes when it's time to go. A concession stand operates here too, though we didn't patronize it. -1 star because normally, Newport Beaches such as this one do charge a ridiculous fee to park. You saw the rates in the first paragraph - it just makes you shake your head in disappointment. There's practically unlimited space here, but they abuse it for a cheap money grab nonetheless. read more

Compared to some of the other beaches around and especially the extra loco traffic we get on Aquidneck Island during the summer season this beach is up there as one of the best beaches to go to. With proper planning it can be much easier to get here but the parking is not cheap, $20 for the day. There is a Del's Lemonade truck that is typically there all day, several different local surf companies are at the beach offering lessons and there is a concession stand if you are a hot dog on the beach type of person. I usually bring a cooler, music and headphones and anything to get myself comfortable and ready to camp out at the beach for the day. Depending on how the summer is around here of course depends on how the water is as this beach. Typically the sand is soft, white, fairly clean and early in the morning I can see a beach crew cleaning up and working away. Most summers the water here is the best! Only a few times have I ever seen trash in the water which is impressive with the amount of people who come in and out of Newport/Middletown during the summer. There are bike racks located at both entrances of the beach, at Surfer's End (where the Del's truck is) there are Portal Toilets near the bike rack. We have a bus that goes to the beach but it only comes every hour or so and it does have a history of having issues with following the schedule posted. The water here is not very calm, so if you are considering bringing a child please plan accordingly. Many families are at this beach but go in the water with their children and do not go too far in. read more

This beach is gorgeous! Clean, lots of parking, nice restroom and shower facilities, and the sand is the smoothest, softest sand I've ever felt. For the price ($15 to park during the week; $20/25 on weekends and holidays), this beach can't be beat. It wasn't super crowded, despite being a beautiful day. So bring your beach blanket, sunscreen, and suit - cause you're going to want to stay there all day! read more

Second Beach is quickly becoming my favorite beach in the Northeast. It has the makings of a great beach in a many ways. Even when it's crowded, it's not annoying. There is no boardwalk, no funnel cake, no games... none of that: Just a parking lot, a changing station and a big, beautiful beach. The sand is exceptionally fine and very clean, and with the exception of some weird red seaweed, the water isn't bad either. There are really no large waves to speak of, so it's a family beach in many regards, but as far as a nice place to relax goes, this is it. Parking is $20, so that might put some people off, but I think you're paying for what you get since you won't end up with a syringe through your foot when you go here. I've experienced two things here that I've never experienced at other beaches before. The first time we went, it was a very sunny day, but very windy, so the fine sand ended up going everywhere and blowing around which was annoying. The second time we went, it was so foggy that the visibility must have been mile, but it burned off by around 12:00pm, which was just fine. Either way, a great place and among my favorite beaches, hands down. read more

This beach has been a family favorite for years, but the nasty red seaweed and associated bugs were terrible this past week. We will avoid it until the water cleans up. If the red seaweed was not present, I'd give it 4-5 stars. Try third beach for cleaner water - but no surf and a bit rockier bottom. Sand at 2nd beach is soft, great surf, nice facilities and helpful staff. Snack bar looked ok, but we did not try it. There are covered picnic tables near the pavilion. They also have beach wheelchairs that can be used at no charge to get your disabled loved-one right down on the beach. read more

It's exactly what I wanted. Smooth clean sand, waves, beautiful backdrop and plenty of parking. In sure that will all change considerably once the summer begins, but for today....it is perfection! read more

Second Beach / Sachuest Beach - Beaches Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

I read the reviews and we ran to this beach while we were visiting today, i paid 30 dollars for parking and sat in between a bunch of people. To be honest, Easton beach was half price and we had a ton of space to chill with our kids! The water was no different in either beach. We had a good time but did not care to be on top of someone ... read more

This is surprisingly beautiful beach with fine sand, clean facilities (bathrooms, outdoor shower, shade tents with picnic tables, & changing station) and enough waves to make the water fun. There was plenty of parking on a very busy day but be forewarned that the line to the parking lot can get very long. We ended up getting lucky and were able to find parking at a house on the same road as the beach. From the house, we just walked on the road and I think we beat a good amount of people down to the shore. Alt adventure: There is a nearby bird sanctuary for those who would like to take a walk or walk along the cliffs. Kids: If you are bringing small children, there are lifeguards scattered through most of the beach and they seem to be pretty attentive. Boogie boards and surfboards are allowed. Cons: At the very end of the beach, there is a red tide and though most people don't swim there, the beach is still nice for sunbathing and setting up volleyball nets. The concession stand should just be replaced by vending machines. The kids running it are completely inept and very rude. We noticed iced coffee was on the menu and ordered 3. There was none made but the girl said was she could make some (after rolling her eyes)-it would just take a while. We were polite and said we wouldn't mind waiting a little while. 30+ minutes later, after paying $4 dollars per cup, they hadn't even started to brew it. Once it was done, they informed us they did not have any kind of creamer, milk,or sugar. We thought about asking for a refund but the girl was very rude and we didn't want to deal with her anymore. It was just kind of a silly experience. If they didn't want to make any, they should've just told us it was out or should have been honest from the beginning of how long it would take to make it. Overall, a GREAT beach!!!! read more

This is my favourite summer spot. My mother was a beach bunny here when she was in college and I grew up always going here. It's exactly what I picture when I think of the shore: lots of soft, fine sand, clear water, enough waves to body surf, and plenty of space to walk and beach comb. The water is warmer than a lot of other New England beaches, from what I've found. It's not as much of a tourist spot as First Beach. There's a concession stand and the ubiquitous Del's cart, but after that, it's all sand and water. Also unlike First Beach, there's rarely an influx of Mermaids' Hair, a fine, icky red seaweed. It does collect in a couple places down by the bluffs and sometimes drifts in late in the day, but it's manageable. Parking is a little more- 10$ on week-days and 20$ on week-ends It's very family friendly. We've always had luck finding a spot near the bathhouse, even without getting there at the crack of dawn, and there's enough space that you won't be sitting on top of the next person's blanket if you move. Just be warned, the seagulls are especially friendly and are pretty clever about getting into anything less than a cooler. On the other hand, it makes for a pretty entertaining show when unsuspecting folks leave food behind. The bathrooms are pretty clean and there's a few showers to clean up in. There's a decent amount of changing rooms too, so the lines aren't that bad. In front of concessions, there are a few picnic tables and a volleyball area that's set back enough to not infere with sunbathers and vice versa. There's enough surf that you can use a boogie board or body surf. You don't have to go too far out to find a decent wave and I don't remember too many days where the water was too calm in almost 30 years of going there. Also, if anyone finds a titanium wedding band? It's probably my husband's. He lost it there just after we were married. read more

I went to second beach for the first time today and I must say it was amazing! I decided to go around 5 which is a perfect time to avoid the crowd and get FREE parking. Overall, I had a great time and I would definitely recommend it! read more

Beautiful, clean beach. No red seaweed. Good waves for the kids to ride. Can't wait to go back!! read more

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Arrived on a late Sunday afternoon. It was partly cloudy and the red tide was in motion. The sand had a lot of shells, rocks and seaweed. My friends did enjoy paddle boarding which was offered by a vender with an open truck. The parking was free and it felt really secluded which was really nice. read more

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Screw first beach. This is the beach to go to! It's definitely more of a "locals" beach ... not too much tourist traffic (thank god). Not only that, but Flat Waves restaurant has a food cart out there! Can't get better than that! The beach is clean, has lots of room to roam, and it's much more relaxing than the other local beaches (that I've been to at least). read more

One of my favorite beaches in RI - to walk, photograph, relax. Love coming here in the off season to try and catch some great shots. Beautiful views. read more

Second Beach / Sachuest Beach - "Escape to Blue" - Beaches Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

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Great beach. $10 to park. They have a nice little snack shack you can buy food at. The showers are also nice to rinse off before you leave. The beach was clean. I was impressed to see staff members walking around with trash bags collecting people's trash . Down the beach a little, they have an area where people can surf. They also have dels lemonade, which can't be beat. There is a winery nearby that I would love to go to after the beach sometime. Oh and another great thing is the intercom system that they can announce things such as missing children information. read more

Second Beach / Sachuest Beach - Beaches Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

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I really liked the couple of times I came here in early August. Great weather, lovely soft sand and beautiful water. Which, by the way, wasn't smelly (like it is in first beach). However, two things - I didn't get to try the raved-about Del's, so I had to settle for a similar, I'm-told-less-good version. And, more importantly, it was a bit packed. It was possibly the busiest beach I've ever actually spent any time on. Which kind of says it all. Popular, because it's good. read more

Great beach, one of my top recommended in MA, RI area. It's not too busy the sand is clean and the whole beach is clean there is not a lot of rocks of shells when going into or in the water. Its fairly large lots of space. Parking is $25 currently for weekend parking which is expensive but well worth it. Everything was great it is kind of small if you like to walk the beach from end to end its probably only about a mile or less so that could be a downside but not a big one. read more

You can't get better than this. It's just as nice as Easton's without the fuss. I love going in the fall when the crazies have left and the parking lot is empty. read more

I've been going to this beach for over ten years! By far the best beach (especially if you have a season pass. The hot gos are great, but beware to bring food on the beach as the sea gull will take them right out of your hands. Happened to me a month ago! Also, be sure to get there early (before 11am) or you have to wait in traffic and park near surfers beach on the weekend. read more

By far the best beach in Newport. The sand is soft, the waves are good, and it's always slightly less crowded than First Beach (Easton's beach, whatever you want to call it). I spent many summer days here. I had to be dropped off by my parents, which gives you an indication of how long ago that was. I remember cheeseburgers at the concessions stand, clear jellyfish being washed up at low tide, and playing paddle ball by the water. But the best part about Second beach is the Del's Lemonade Stand in the parking lot of the surfing area. SO GOOD. read more

I absolutely love this place. There are so many beautiful beaches and waterfronts in Newport and this is just one of them that I decided to visit. The only thing I disliked is the red algae/seaweed that seems to be quite prevalent in the area. There's a lot of walking paths too behind the waterfront for those who aren't interested in lounging around but also to take a scenic walk. There's a decent amount of parking, plenty each time I went and never felt like I had to drive around to look for a space. Highly recommend everyone come by. Beautiful and peaceful place to see. read more

My family has been going to 2nd beach since I was a teenager, many years ago. I get a non-resident parking pass every year and look forward to days by the ocean. Last wee was my first time this summer and I was really disappointed at the conditions at the food stand and womens' restroom . The young people taking orders had no idea what they were doing and one girl was snarling at her colleagues. A boy with curly blond hair, who worked there last year, too, cut in front of me 3 times with no"excuse me" which isn't too hard to spit out. Half of the bathroom was out of order, the usual staff person was gone and it was really filthy. If I was a taxpayer in Middletown I'd be furious. read more

It's a bit expensive if you aren't a resident with a season pass, but the beach itself is awesome. The parking lot is enormous with tons of paths to get to the beach (just be careful of people driving like tools). Honestly, my only gripe about the beach is the red tide down by the the far end of the beach, which seems exceptionally bad this summer. No, all the crazy amounts of seaweed and such aren't harmful, but as someone that never dealt with this growing up near the beach in southern NJ, I still find it really off putting. It's WAY better than 1st beach (Easton's Beach), but it's still bad. That being said, the far end of the beach (by Sachuest Point) has come of the clearest water I've ever seen. It's gorgeous! Go in to the parking lot and go left. Overall? If you are into waves and the atmosphere of lots of people enjoying the beach, of course you should go to second beach. Just bring money to park if your from out of town. read more

This is a southern break beach that rivals most anything else in the Cape and Islands. Not the best beach in the world, but then you can drive there very easily, there's adequate parking, they keep it clean, they keep some parts natural. One unique feature here is for all us dog owners - bring your well-behaved, leashed canine companion for a great local social scene from 05 to 07:45 AM without any fees. If you should forget your pick up bag, they are often available near a lifeguard stand. The panorama is quite a sight too. You've got St. George's School to the west above Purgatory Chasm, Sachuest Nature Preserve to the East, and the open Atlantic/Block Island Sound to the south. As for surf sports - wind, kite, kayak, board, body - there are times and places for it all. Again, not the best break in New England, but consistently worth the trip. Check out local surf shops and webpages for conditions - http://www.nesurf.com/Reports/index.php read more

Situation on Saturday ( sunny): Pros: Not so crowded compared to Easton beach. Restrooms are usable, not so great. Nice white sand. People surfing and enjoying small to medium waves. Cliff nearby to click nice views. Parking situation never gets bad (20) on weekend. Secluded and people mind their own business. Life guards at distant corners as well as at the max swimming distance allowed. Cons: Half of the beach was filled with red sand or rather some kind of spillage Which stinks very bad. You cannot swim/ even sit nearby in half of the beach's length due to this. Some small brown sea weed is always floating to you while swimming but I don't think that's harmful. Ocean beach in connecticut was far better than this beach in terms of activities. read more

Amazing beach. Soft sand, warm (ish) water, plenty of parking. Only negative is all the seaweed!

It was an ok beach. The bad: fair share (although not excessive) of garbage, like bottle caps, plastic junk, plastic baggies, cloths, and metal wire that I saw on this first time visit. I was a little concerned about where my child was stepping. Some plastic green thing was sticking up on the sand near our towels that looked like a syringe cylinder. Doubt it since it was lime green but I wasn't going to chance it and look. Also, there is a HUGE amount of churned up red seaweed in the ocean (waves rolled in red) and on the sand. It gets EVERYWHERE on you. You might as well be swimming in seaweed soup. Pretty windy the day I went, so my beach umbrella was useless. Lots of surfers though. Showers outside are hidden behind trucks. I had to ask someone where it was. It was not a very forceful stream so getting the seaweed out of hair and bathing suit was not easy. Also, I found my daughter had a couple centipede-looking insects IN her suit that fell out when changing. Oh, and lots of seagulls so don't leave your food uncovered; we saw 10 of the biggest seagulls ever having a field day at someone's spot. The good: The view is pretty and the huge rocks are nice as well as the dunes. It's also not so crowded like First Beach. So if you stay on the white sandy area in the upper part, its fine. The water is actually very warm too. I arrived late, like 4 pm, so they didn't seem to be charging at the first lot along the road (not the larger main parking lot). Don't know if I'd return though. The garbage, excessive red seaweed, and the bugs in the suit turned me off. :/ read more

This has to be my new favorite beach. At the far right end, there are rocks you can hike up, way above the water, until you reach a chasm and a bridge to look down in. You can swim into the chasm from the water below. The sand is white and soft, and the water is perfectly warm. It has some mermaid's hair at some points, but not too bad. It was July 2nd, a gorgeous Saturday today, and I still found a spot in 2 minutes. Parking though, is a HASSLE! Expect to pay $20 or more, IF a lot has room. Best bet is to turn left onto Paradise ave and go about 1.5 miles to the end, and park at the little parking lot on the left hand side. I suggest a scooter or bike for the mile trip, but I walked it easily in about 15-20 mins. The street itself is well shaded and gorgeous, and features the Middletown Historical Society and a small park on the right hand side heading towards the beach. read more

I've been to beaches all over this state, in other states and other counties. Second beach beats them all. It's nestled in a cove on an inlet in Newport. Because it's in a cove, the water is a little warmer than other RI beaches. That could be enough right there.. But there's more. The sand is soft and fine. The surf is awesome. The beach is flat and grades perfectly out into the water. There's a pavilion with bathhouse and outdoor showers, food and first aid. There's volleyball nets and an area designated for surfing. You can even rent a board if u like. It gets crowded but theres always plenty of room. Alcohol is not allowed but those who choose to partake do it discretely. The 360 view from the beach is incredible. On the right coast of the beach is purgatory chasm.. And cool little hike with a rock chasm and a birds eye view of the coast. Around the corner is the Norman bird sanctuary where u can hike to hangmans rock and blaze some trails..And just down the street u have 2 other beaches, a beach club, shops, bars and eats including FLOS clam shack.. The best fried clams in the state!! If u have never been it's a must see! read more

Second Beach / Sachuest Beach - Cloudy and still beautiful - Beaches Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

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If you are looking for a younger crowd and drinks then this may not be the beach for you. But if you want beautiful fine sand, a gorgeous shoreline, and a quiet family setting then look no further. I have been going to second beach for over ten years now and it is definitely one of the best beaches in RI. Getting a season pass for the summer is expensive, more so than any other beach, but will save you a bundle if you plan to go frequently on the weekends. The beach is well maintained, they have a place for your to dispose of your trash, and there are bathrooms at the pavilion as well as a porta's at each path going on to the beach. The concessions are great and they have outside showers to rinse off with. If you are going on the weekend go early, parking fills up fast! read more

Great beach!!! Clean water and sand is very soft! First day there was not great due to high winds and sand blowing on us. Second day was awesome!!warm waters and great surf. We paid for parking this time. Day before we rode our bikes and locked them up. The beach has bike racks which makes life easier when u dont want to pay for parking. There was an influx of clear jelly fish towards mid day which felt as if u were swimming thru jello. read more

Rocky sand and slim beach but beautifully kept parking lot and very clean facilities.

Nice powdery soft, fine, and clean sand. The watervis usually clean also. In my opinion, the best beach in Newport. Great for swimming, walking, sunbathing, relaxing and hanging out w friends, family. I also like bringing my dog after hours, he loves it! read more

We've been coming here from out of state with our family, young and old since 1999. The beach is just the right size, nice boogie boarding waves, sand is soft and clean. Picturesque school in the background. Some years the seaweed has been a bit overwhelming, not today - the water is crisp, a bit cool, but clear. Parking is $25 holiday wknd rate but at least there was parking! Love it here, many wonderful memories. The one big unfortunate let down today was the extremely rude teenager at the disorganized expensive snack bar-- you'd think for the prices they'd at least train these kids in some customer service- but hey- they excelled in their best smirks. read more

My favorite beach in the newport area. There's plenty of parking and fantastic views. Also within walking distance to Norman Bird Sanctuary, which has some great nature trails. read more